Charlevoix Public Schools Board of Education extends Janik's contract

Opinion split on contents of annual evaluation report

The Charlevoix Public Schools Board of Education extended the contract for district superintendent Chet Janik for an additional year and approved his annual written evaluation on a split vote Monday.

The Charlevoix Public Schools Board of Education extended the contract for district superintendent Chet Janik for an additional year and approved his annual written evaluation on a split vote Monday.

The vote on the motion that included both the contract extension and the evaluation passed by a 4-2 vote with board members Valerie Snyder and Kevin Pearsall voting no.

Janik's contract, a rolling three-year contract, is now extended through the end of the 2013-14 school year. The renewed three-year contract remains unchanged again this year paying him $102,144 in annual salary, health, dental, vision, long term disability and life insurance.

In his annual evaluation Janik overall received high praise from the board.

Board president John McLean Jr. read a written summary of the evaluation which took place in closed session on March 9.

According to the written report, Janik overall met or exceeded the board's expectations, specifically in areas such as student achievement, finance and leadership.

"Board members were asked to provide feedback to the superintendent in each goal area. They unanimously affirmed that Chet had met their expectations as superintendent," the written report reads.

"In finance, superintendent Janik exceeded expectations. Board members credited him with great efficiency in stretching fewer dollars where they were most needed. His priorities mirrored theirs in matching resources with student instruction," the document reads.

On his own behalf, Janik pointed to smooth leadership transition and greater collaboration among employee groups as points of pride.

The board, according to the written evaluation report, also commended Janik for his work in recent administration hires, communication with the board and improvements in his relationship with the staff.

The one blemish on the evaluation was a discussion of the "athletic complex process."

"It did not go well and Chet took responsibility," the report reads. "The superintendent was urged to work with the district's attorney and assisting the board in developing new policies to minimize disruption in the future."

In the report, the board also challenged Janik to "leave no stone un-turned" in seeking alternative sources of revenue.

But not all members of the school board agreed with the contents of the written report.

Before the vote, Snyder said she would prefer if the matters of Janik's contract and the evaluation report could be voted on separately.

She added that sections of the evaluation report do not accurately reflects what was said during the closed session, but she did not elaborate on what the differences were. She also said she would not be in favor of extending Janik's contract back to the full three years because "we are in an era of crisis."

Pearsall also did not agree with all of the report's content saying, "There are a few comments in here that weren't what we talked about," he said, also not elaborating.

Three of the other four board members made comments supportive of Janik.

"We are going into some tough times," board member Bo Boss said. "I'm totally behind Chet and all the administrators. I think we need to stay united."

In another motion the board unanimously approved renewing the district's administrative and non-bargaining contracts -- all with no pay increases.

In other business the board also approved the first amendment to its 2010-11 budget since approving it in June.

The revised budget picture improves slightly the version initially passed.

Janik explained that the district has seen increases in both its revenue and expenses since the beginning of the budget year. The increased revenue came from the passage of federal funding legislation. Much of the increased revenue was offset by increased expenses in employee retirement rates, sick day buyouts and some mandated part-time staff additions in special education.

However, the net effect of the changes knocks the budget deficit down to about $275,00 -- a reduction of about $76,000. The revised budget projects a year-end fund balance of $316,000.

The board will likely make one last revision to the budget just prior to the fiscal year's end in June.